Religious Education

The St Joan of Arc Catholic Church Youth Religious Education program is intended for students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. We are blessed to have many wonderful St Joan of Arc volunteer parishioners facilitate all our classes. Our program meets in person on Sunday mornings from 10:45 am until noon at St. Joan of Arc School.

Faith formation is an essential aspect of Catholic education, as it lays the foundation for a child’s understanding of the Catholic faith. Through engaging and interactive lessons, children are introduced to the basic principles of Catholicism, such as the belief in one God, the Holy Trinity, and the importance of Jesus Christ as our savior.

Our RE students will learn about the significance of the Church, the structure of the Mass, and Catholic prayers. By providing a solid understanding of these fundamental concepts, children are able to develop a strong faith from an early age.

Important Program Information Diocesan/Parish Policies

1. Baptismal Records - All new students must have a copy of their Baptismal Certificate on file in our office. This should be turned in at the beginning of the year. Transfer students must also submit a Transfer Form, which should include an attendance record and complete information on Sacraments already received. Parents should request this form from the previous parish.
2. Two Year Sacrament Preparation - Students are required to complete two years of sacramental preparation before receiving the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. If your older child has not attended the Second-Grade year, then your child MUST attend tutoring classes for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in their SECOND YEAR of classes.
3. Communication – Please be sure to provide us with your email address. Most of the information we distribute regarding our program is done via email. If you do not have an email account, I encourage you to get one. Yahoo and Gmail both offer free email services. We are here to serve you and your children. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me, Julie Dillenburg, at jdillenburg@sjalisle.org.
4. Family Participation – All families are expected to participate in our parish life and give your family and children a sense of belonging and community. Religious Education is about all of us, as members of the Church, learning together, witnessing, and growing in our faith together.
5. Mass Attendance – Parents are the primary educators of their children in all learning, including faith formation. Parents serve as role models of faith for their children at home by treating others with kindness and respect, by encouraging regular class attendance and by praying together. They are also role models in Mass attendance by participating with their children at Mass every Saturday or Sunday. The Spirit of God gathers us together as God’s family when we attend the celebration of the Eucharist and teaches, nourishes, and strengthens us to be good followers of Jesus.

Our Curriculum

Our RE Program is using the Blest Are We Faith in Action - Parish Edition curriculum. The Blest Are We Faith in Action religious education program was developed according to the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These four parts of the Catechism are identified by the words Believe, Worship, Live, and Pray. Student books for the parish program help students learn their Catholic faith and deepen their Catholic identity.

Blest Are We Faith in Action offers:

Faith in Action pages for each chapter, establishing a strong connection to Catholic Social Teaching

Redesigned Take Home pages, supporting families in the faith formation of their children

How parents can support our Religious Education program:

• Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, and go to Confession frequently (see bulletin or website for times).
• Discuss the Sunday readings with your children before/after attending Mass and help them reflect on them.
• Help your child learn how to pray by praying regularly with them.
• Please see that your children participate weekly in Religious Education.
• Show interest in what your child is learning by sitting down with them at home to review the lessons, discuss them, and share with your family!
• Help your child/children be conscientious about any homework given to them each week.
• Foster an attitude of respect and cooperation within your child for Religious Education, the staff, and teachers.

In addition to our Religious Education programs, St Joan of Arc Catholic Church has a fully accredited school meeting the needs of students ranging from preschool to eighth grade. We provide academic excellence, STREAM, arts, Spanish and reading specialists, a safe and loving environment, 98% Catholic high school testing acceptance rate, onsite before and after school care, scholarship options, athletic programs starting in 5th grade, advantage of uniforms plus so much more. Please visit school.sjalisle.org for more information on our parish school.